novellhall Chapter 14 Buy me Starbucks, the most expensive kind!
Chapter 14 Buy me Starbucks, the most expensive kind!
"OK!"
Director Sarah began, her voice slightly softer than before: "Next scene, monologue."
Chen Xun stood up and walked to a vacant lot next to him, which symbolized his rented room.
He took a deep breath, as if trying to compose himself.
Action!
Chen Xun silently recited in his heart.
A slightly exaggerated smile instantly spread across his face. He waved at the air and said in accented but clearly articulated English:
"Mom, I'm fine! My classmates are all very friendly... Hmm, I ate, I had pizza... I'm not tired, and I'm keeping up with my studies..."
He spoke a little too fast, and his smile had a hint of forced stiffness.
He wasn't putting on an act of "being happy".
Instead, they are performing "trying to act happy".
Suddenly, he paused, as if the video call had ended.
The smile on his face vanished as quickly as the tide receded.
The person's aura instantly shifted from a forced positivity to an empty one.
He didn't break down immediately, but remained frozen for a few seconds.
The light in his eyes went out, and his shoulders slumped slightly, revealing a weariness from having all his energy drained away.
Then, he slowly squatted down, as if his legs were too weak to support his body.
He lowered his head and ran his hands through his hair.
There was no crying, only a slight, uncontrollable trembling in her shoulders.
His breathing became heavy and labored, as if something was stuck in his chest.
after awhile.
A suppressed, choked gasp escaped from his throat.
Short and painful.
He didn't wail or scream.
But this silent collapse is all the more impactful.
As Chen Xun performed, the atmosphere in the room suddenly felt somewhat sad and lonely.
The monologue ends.
Chen Xun remained squatting there, head down, quickly adjusting his breathing, trying to detach himself from the character's emotions.
His newly upgraded emotional control allows him to delve deeply into a relationship and also pull out relatively quickly, preventing him from becoming completely trapped.
Silence fell over the room once again.
Director Sarah had taken off her glasses and was rubbing her temples.
The Asian man, who had always been expressionless, was now looking at Chen Xun with a completely new gaze.
Robert's mouth was slightly open as he looked at Chen Xun, then at the documents in his hand, his eyes filled with shock!
WTF?
When did this kid evolve?
"Holy shit!"
Rob muttered something softly, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Director Sarah put her glasses back on, cleared her throat, and tried to regain her professional demeanor:
"Mr. Chen, your performance was very nuanced. Could you talk about your understanding of the character 'Li'?"
Chen Xun stood up, his breathing steady. Using his composed demeanor, he answered neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"I think Li's loneliness comes not only from language and culture, but also from a sense of detachment. He can neither truly integrate into this place, nor does he seem to have become alienated from his past self."
"His breakdown was not a sudden blow, but the inevitable result of countless small disappointments accumulating."
The Asian man spoke for the first time, his voice low and deep:
"Your silence just now was more powerful than many people's words. How did you manage to do that?"
Chen Xun thought to himself: It's all thanks to a cheat code!
But he said modestly:
"I try to feel the emotion itself, rather than thinking about how to act it out."
That's half true and half false, but it sounds very sophisticated.
Director Sarah exchanged a glance with the Asian man, then said to Chen Xun:
"Very good, thank you for your performance. We will let you know the results as soon as possible."
Chen Xun bowed politely, then turned and left the audition room.
The moment the door closed, he seemed to hear faint sounds of discussion coming from inside.
Stepping out of the warehouse, the Los Angeles sun was a bit too bright.
Chen Xun let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had just fought a tough battle.
Regardless of the outcome, he did his best!
Moreover, he clearly felt that his performance this time had far exceeded Rob's, and even exceeded his own expectations.
On the bus back home.
He was savoring the performance he had just witnessed.
The feeling of precisely controlling emotions and subtle bodily responses is simply wonderful.
Is this the confidence that comes with increased strength?
He subconsciously brought up the control panel.
During the audition, I discovered that an attribute orb had also dropped.
It might be due to a judge's [aura-related attribute - scrutiny +1].
He absorbed it instinctively!
This month, he had already developed the physical instinct to absorb attribute orbs as soon as they were within his absorption range!
When he returned to the apartment, he found Lee So-yeon pacing anxiously in the living room.
"How is it? How is it?"
The moment she saw Chen Xun, she rushed over, even more nervous than when she auditioned herself.
"Did you shock that Robert? Did you use that broken look in your eyes, just like I said?"
Chen Xun took off his coat and lazily sprawled on the sofa:
"It's alright, Rob does seem a bit surprised."
"Just a little surprised?"
Lee So-yeon pouted in dissatisfaction: "You definitely didn't perform well! Let me tell you, independent films only work this way!"
"Be vulnerable! Be sensitive! Be able to evoke sympathy in those middle-class white viewers, like 'Oh, this poor Asian kid!'"
Chen Xun was too lazy to explain to her that the core concept of his performance was authenticity, not playing the victim.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from Robert, only one line long:
"Kid, what the hell are you doing today? You're a really good actor. Waiting for news."
Looking at this message, so characteristic of Robert's style, Chen Xun couldn't help but let a clear smile curve his lips upwards.
He knew there was hope!
But since sending that "waiting for news" text message, Rob has remained silent.
Chen Xun spent two restless days.
As he continued to serve as a human backdrop on the street corner in Santa Monica, he couldn't help but check his phone every ten minutes, afraid of missing any unknown calls.
Just when he was about to think that the audition was just a beautiful accident in his career.
The phone rang!
The screen was flashing Rob's name.
Hey, China Boy!
Rob's voice still carried that characteristic husky quality of a rough man, but there seemed to be something else in his tone; it was no longer purely businesslike.
"Get ready to buy me Starbucks, the most expensive kind."
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Is there news?"
"That role, Li, is yours!"
Robert put it simply and concisely:
"Director Sarah and the production company are very satisfied with your audition, especially that monologue. The contract and script have been sent to your email. The pay isn't high, it's an independent film, but you've landed a decent role."
Even though he had a premonition, he still found it hard to believe when he confirmed the news!
Chen Xun gripped his phone tightly, trying to keep his voice steady:
"Thanks, Rob."
"Don't thank me, it's all thanks to your own hard work!"
Rob chuckled on the other end of the phone:
"Seriously, Chen, it's been a month. What the hell have you been doing, going into seclusion with some kind of sorcerer master?"
"The progress is terrifying!"
"Get ready, filming starts next week and will last for three weeks. Locations and detailed arrangements will be sent via email!"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun stood there.
Looking at the bustling streets of Santa Monica, with crowds struggling for a few dozen dollars a day, it felt like an unreal dream.
He, a USC dropout who almost had to go back to Hengdian due to visa issues, actually landed a role with a name and a story in Hollywood!